CBS Correspondent Matt Gutman Accused of Harassment in Lawsuit
CBS News chief correspondent Matt Gutman is facing allegations of sexual harassment and a hostile work environment, according to a lawsuit filed by former ABC News field producer Samira Said. The complaint, lodged in Los Angeles Superior Court, also names ABC News, The Walt Disney Co., and a former ABC bureau chief as defendants. Said claims Gutman made inappropriate workplace comments and that ABC subsequently terminated her employment after denying her medical accommodations following her trauma from covering the Uvalde school massacre.
Allegations Against Matt Gutman
The lawsuit details two specific incidents involving Gutman. In the first, Said alleges that while working on an assignment with an all-male team, Gutman initiated a conversation rating the appearance of a female correspondent. According to the complaint, Gutman and the male crew members proceeded to assess the woman’s physical attributes, attempting to draw Said into the discussion. Said reportedly declined and stated the conversation was inappropriate.
A second alleged incident occurred during a press event for a movie release. The complaint states that when Said and Gutman disagreed about relocating their team, Gutman responded with a sexually suggestive remark. He allegedly insinuated that Said’s reluctance to move was due to having an after-hours date in the city. The lawsuit asserts that this comment, made audibly to coworkers, demeaned Said and reduced her professional judgment to a sexualized stereotype.
Broader Claims Against ABC News and Disney
Gutman’s alleged conduct forms part of a larger legal action by Said against ABC and Disney. She accuses these entities of discrimination, retaliation, failing to accommodate her medical needs, and wrongful termination. Said was employed by ABC News in its Los Angeles bureau from May 2021 until March 2025.
Said’s lawsuit contends that management pressured her to cover the May 2022 Uvalde, Texas, school shooting despite experiencing COVID-19 symptoms. Her assignment involved interviewing child survivors of the massacre, an experience she states led to severe psychological distress. Although a psychiatrist later cleared Said to return to work with specific accommodations, the complaint alleges that then-Los Angeles bureau chief David Herndon refused to permit a restricted schedule. Herndon reportedly made it clear that Said would not be allowed to resume her role unless she returned without restrictions and with full-time availability.
Following this, Said was allegedly reassigned to weekend desk duties. The lawsuit further claims that she was later assigned to cover the January 2025 Los Angeles wildfires and other hazardous weather events. During one such assignment, heavy equipment allegedly struck her foot, causing a bone contusion.
Said’s termination, according to the filing, occurred on March 5, 2025, during what was described as a routine meeting. She is seeking compensatory and punitive damages, along with attorney’s fees and a jury trial. These allegations have not yet been proven in court.
Gutman’s Move to CBS News
Matt Gutman joined CBS News in January, concluding a 17-year tenure at ABC News. His arrival at CBS marked a significant early hire under CBS News editor-in-chief Bari Weiss. At CBS, Gutman is slated to report for “CBS Mornings” and the “CBS Evening News,” lead reporting for “48 Hours,” contribute to “60 Minutes,” and serve as a fill-in anchor.
Upon his hiring, Weiss expressed strong support for Gutman’s journalistic approach, stating, “Matt Gutman goes there. He brings the audience along with him to whatever story he is covering, and he approaches his work with the qualities we look for in all our journalists: fearlessness, energy and relentlessness.”
Representatives for Disney and CBS were contacted for comment regarding the lawsuit. A Disney representative informed The Los Angeles Times that executives had not yet had the opportunity to review the complaint.
